Two new movies opened in wide release, one a prequel/sequel to a hit blockbuster from seven years back, the other the latest from DreamWorks Animation based on a cartoon from the '60s, and it may have not been too big a surprise that Legendary Pictures' 300: Rise of an Empire (Warner Bros.), starring Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green and Lena Headey, was victorious this weekend as it grossed an estimated $45 million in 3,470 theaters, roughly $13 thousand per venue, to take the #1 spot at the box office. While that was significantly lower than the $70.9 million of Zack Snyder's original historic action epic from 2007, it was a solid enough debut to make it one of the top openers for March. The movie's success was helped by its release into 342 domestic IMAX 3D theaters where it brought in $6.8 million of its weekend business. The "300" follow-up also grossed $5.2 million on 179 international IMAX screens, setting a new international March record for the large-screen format.